Window shade



'c. D. CARVER 2,110,983

WINDOW SHADE March 15, 1938.

z Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec; 6, 1934 INVENTOR Claude D. Comer BY r KM ATTORNEYS C. D. CARVER WINDOW SHADE March 15, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTbR Claude D. Carver BY p ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,110,983 wmnow SHADE Claude D. Carver, New York, N.- Y.) assignor to Morse & Drlscoll, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 6, 1934, Serial No.756,2'72' 1'1 Claims.

This invention relatesto window shades, and more particularly to shades using plaited fabric.-

The primary object of my invention is to generally improve plaited window shades, particularly shades of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,789,724 issued January 20, 1931.

A more particular object of my invention concerns shades intended for windows of large size. The cost of a spring shade roller 'of ample power rises extremely sharply with increase in size and weight of the shade. Furthermore, thebottom shade stick must be made heavier and more rigid to avoid bending when drawn downwardly against the resistance of a shade roller having a powerful spring. In accordance with one feature of my invention, ,these difliculties' are overcome, and a shade characterized by smooth and dependable operation is obtained by using a solid or springless shade roller which is operated by a cord wound on the shade roller in a direction opposite to that of the tapes Further objects of my invention center about the provision of ventilating means for improving the ventilation obtainable when using a plaited shade. To this end, I provide meansfo'r raising or lowering the top shade stick as well as the bottom shade stick, sq that the top shade stick may be lowered whenthe top window is lowered, particularly at night. An ancillary object is to so arrange the ventilating means that .the top shade stick when elevated is drawn to the top ,of the window frame and in front .of the shade roller, thereby concealing the mechanism of the shade. v

With plaited shades there is a constant tendency for the upper, plaits to open unduly to a comparatively flat condition, while the lower plaits close to a sharply folded or unopened condition. ornamental appearance of the shade which should best be characterized by uniformly partially opened plaits. To pr vent complete flattening of the upper folds, it has heretofore been necessary to employ a comparatively heavy and expensive quality of shade cloth. A .further object of my invention is to overcome the foregoing difliculties and to insure a uniform and limited opening of the plaits even when using it compare tively light and inexpensive shade fabric. To this end, I provide spacer tapes extending along one face of the shade and secured to the successive edges or creases of the plaits; I prefer to locate the spacer tapes at the back of the shade in order to conceal the same, but this is not essential'. I find it convenient to staple the tape to This, of course, detracts from the the shade cloth by ordinary metallic staples or fasteners such as. are commonly used in ofllces. The spacer tapes are preferably initially creased to fold inwardly between the foldsof the shade cloth, and the staples help maintain this result. The side edges of the shade are preferably hemmed to strengthen the shade cloth at thepoint' of attachment of the spacer tapes.

Still another object of my invention concerns the leveling or adjustment of the bottom shade stick for horizontality. Further objects center about the provision of three-way or. universal shade brackets which may be mounted on all types of window frameand which include guide means for ventilating cords as well as support means for the shade roller, the said guide and supportmeans being so relatively disposed as to afford concealment of the shade roller and clearance. for the tapes wound thereon. I Y

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the shade elements and-their relation one to the other, as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a'front elevation-of a shade embodying features of myinvention including the use of a springle'ss shade roller;

Fig. 2 is a section taken in the plane of the line 2.2 of Fig. -1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective bracket;

Fig. 4 is a perspective drawing of the other, shade bracket;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of a shade having a spring roller but'embodying other features of my invention;

. Fig, 6- is a section through the upper part of either shade and illustrates the spacer tape;

Fig. '7 is a section taken in the plane of the line of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a part of either shade, showing the adjusting clip for leveling the bottom shade stick; and 1 Fig!) is a partial front elevation of the shade shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings and more particudrawing of one shade larly to Fig. 1, the shade of my invention com-- while the bottom shade stick is in a horizontal ly from bottom shadestick I4 through aligned holes or slits in the folds of the shade cloth to a shade roller 22 located near the top of the window frame 24. It should be understood that more than two of the tapes It! may be and ordinarily are employed with this type of shade, it being intended for windows of large size;

The shade roller 22 is comparatively inexpensive, it being simply a solid shade roller of sufllcient diameter to remain straight under the load of the shade. It is operated by an operating cord 26 which is wound about the shade stick 22 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the-tapes l8 are wound about the shade roller. Sufiicient turns 28 are provided to obtain full elevation of the shade. There is ample room for the turns 28 because of the spaced occurrence of the tapes l8 which leave the remainder of the shade roller open to appropriation. However, I prefer to locate the turns 28 at one end of the shade rollerto avoid any tendency to bend the same. The lower end of operating cord is preferably drawn through a catch pulley 30 of conventional type, so that the shade may be held at any desired elevation.

For purposes of ventilation, the top shade stick I2 is preferably provided with means to raise or,lower the same, exemplified by ventilating cords 32 and 34 connected at the ends of the shade stick l2 and extending upwardly to guide means or pulleys 36 which train the cords .to one side of the window frame and then downwardly.

A tie-up bracket 38 is preferably secured to thewindow frame and holds the top shade stick in desired position.

The shade is supported by special brackets 40 and 42 secured inside the upper corners of the window frame. Bracket 48 is best illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises a side wall 44, a back flange 46, and a top flange 48 all of which are perforated .to receive mounting screws, thereby providing three ways in which'the bracket may be secured in place. Side wall 44 is dished to provide a boss or bearing 50 having a bearing hole 52 for receiving the pin at one end of the shade roller. This bearing is preferably located below the top flange 48 of the bracket a distance sufiicient to insure clearance for the tapes l8 when fully woundton the shade roller. The ventilating cord guide or pulley 36 is mounted on an arm 54 made from the same sheet of metal as the body of the shade bracket. It should be noted that the pulley 36 is located at the very top of the bracket and in front of bearing hole 52. This makes possible full elevation of the top shade stick in ventilating cords. Side wall 56 is dished at 64 but here the bearing 66 opens into a slot 68. It

will be understood that one end or pin of the shade roller is first inserted in the round bearing hole 52, whereupon the other endor pin of the shaderoller is moved in the approach slot 68 until it becomes seated in the bearing seat 66. The

shade pin may, if desired, be locked securely in plaits.

2,110,983 position. A plurality of tapes l8 extend upwardthe shade bracket by means of a cotter pin 10 clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 also shows the manner in which the ventilating cords 34 are secured to the top shade stick l2. The shade stick is eyeletted at 12; the cord is knotted at 14; and a loop above the knot is passed through eyelet 12 and hooked on a hook 16 having a decorative head 18. The cord is then drawn back to remove slack and to lock the parts in place.

The shade is preferably provided with spacer tapes to limit the maximum opening of the shade These tapes are not visible in Fig. 1 because I prefer to locate the same at the back of the shade. They may be described with reference to Figs. 5, 6, and 7 in which it will be seen that the side edges of the shade cloth are preferably hemmed at for reinforcement, and have secured thereto spacer tapes 82. The functioning of these tapes will be self-evident from inspection of Fig. 6 in which it will be seen that the tapes are secured to the alternate creases 84 of the successive plaits at one side of the shade, but are substantially shorter from crease to crease than is the shade cloth, thereby definitely limiting the maximum opening of the plait. I prefer to initially fold the tape 82 inwardly at the center 86 of each section, so that the tapes fold within the shade when the shade plaits are closed. The tape is preferably secured to the shade cloth by using simple metallic staples 88 of a type commonly employed in oflices for securing together sheets of paper.

tom shade stick, I have devised a metallic fitting or clip 90 located beneath the shade stick, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. This clip is best shown in Fig. 8, and is shaped somewhat like a scimiter, thereby symbolizing the name Carver-the name of the inventor and the trade name under which the shades are sold. ihe blade of the clip has a bayonet slot 92 which cooperates with a screw 94. The tape I8 is wound about the handle 96 of the clip. It will be manifest that by detaching the clip from screw 94 and rotating the same one or more times, the tape may be appropriately lengthened or shortened, whereupon the clip may again be replaced on screw 94.

While the shade has been described with a springless roller, it should be understood that many of the features of the invention already outlined are equally well applicable to plaited shades of different character. Referring to Figs. 5 and 9, I show some of the features of my invention applied to a shade utilizing a spring roller. Such a shade is particularly convenient and popular with windows of normal size. As before, the shade comprises top and bottom shade sticks I2 and I4 interconnected by a plaited shade cloth l6. Tapes I8 extend upwardly from the clips 90 through aligned slits in the shade cloth, and are wound upon a shade roller Hill. This shade roller is of the spring type used in ordinary shades.

It is mounted in shade brackets I02 and I4.

These shade brackets preferably resemblethose heretofore described, in being three-way brackets, that is, in comprising a side wall, a top flange, and a back flange. The latter is visible in Fig. 5, the figure being a rear elevation. The brackets are also provided with integrally formed guide arms I 06 for ventilating cords I08. In this case the arms are preferably merely eyeletted at H0,

instead of being provided with pulleys, because bearing hole for a pin, while the other bracket is slotted not only to receive the opposite end of the shade roller, but also to prevent rotation of the conventionalflattened pin H4 which is connected to the shade spring. The shade is raised or lowered bya cord H6 connected to bottom shade stick l4. W a

It will be obvious that the ventilating featur the three-way brackets, the spacer tapes, and the adjusting clips for leveling the bottom shade stick have all been applied to and are all useful in connection with this shade. I may also call attention to metal reinforcements 120 used in the tape slits of the topmost plait. I have found that there is greater wear at this point than in the subjacent aligned slits, this being due to the effect of the top shade stick which may tend to swing to one side or another when being lowered or raised.

It is believed that the mode of constructing and using, as well as the many advantages of my improved plaited shade, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. While the drawings show the shade in ventilating position with theroller exposed, it should be understood that in normal position the upper part of the shade is drawn in front of and effectively conceals the shade roller, the lower part of the shade being raised or lowered as desired. It will also be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred form s, many changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed, without departing from the claims.

I claim:

1. A shadec'omprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited cloth, a solid shade roller of uniform diameter mounted for free rotation at the top of the window frame, tapes extending upwardly from the bottom shade stick through aligned slits in the plaits to and spirally wound around the outside of said roller, anoperating cord secured to and helically wound around the outside of said roller in .a direction opposite to the tapes, and a catch pul; ley at the bottom of the window frame through which said operating cord is passed.

2. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnectedby a horizontally plaited 'cloth, a solid shade roller of uniform diameter mounted for free rotation at the top of the window frame, tapes extending upwardly from the bottom shade stick through aligned slits in the plaits to and spirally wound around the outside of said roller, an operating cord secured to and helically wound around the outside of said roller in a direction opposite to the tapes, a .catch pulley at the bottom of the window frame through which said operating cord is passed, ventilating cords extending. upwardly from the top shade sticks, and guides for training said cords downwardly.

' 3. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade clothjmei'ms for raising or lowering .the

imum opening of each individual plait of the shade.

4. A shade comprising .top and bottom shade stricks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth, means for raising or lowering the bottom shade stick, and means to limit the maximum opening of the individual plaits of the shade, said means comprising tapes extending vertically on one face of said shade and attached at'alternate creases of the successive plaits.

5. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth, means for raising or lowering the bottom shade'stick, and means to limit the maximum opening of the individual plaits of the shade, said means comprising tapes extending behind the shade and secured to alternate creases of the successive plaits, the tapes being folded in the same direction as the shade cloth but being shorter than the shade cloth.

6. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnectedby a horizontally plaited shade cloth, means for raising or lowering the bottom shade stick, and means to limit the maximum opening of the individual plaits of the shade, said means comprising tapes extending behind the shade and secured to alternate creases of the successive plaits, said tapes being secured to the hems by metal clips passing through the tapes and hems.

7. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth, the side edges of said cloth being folded rearwardly and hemmed, means for raising or lowering the bottom. shade stick, and means to limit the maximum opening of the individual plaits of the shade, said means comprising tapes extending behind the shade at the side edges thereof and secured to alternate creases of the successive plaits, said tapes being secured to the hems by metal clips passing through the tapes and hems, the tapes being folded in the same direction as the shade cloth but being shorter than the shade cloth.

,8. A shade comprising top and bottom'shade sticks interconnected by a plaited shade cloth,

- tapes extending through the bottom shade stick and through aligned slits in the successive plaits to a roller at the top of the shade, and adjustable means for securing the lower ends of the tapes, said means comprising a metal fitting having a spindle portion about which the end of the tape is to aroller at the top of the shade, and adjustable means for securing the lower ends of the tapes, said meanscomprising a flat metal fitting having a bayonet slot and a spindle portion about which the end of the tape is wound, said bottom shade stick havingmeans dimensioned to pass through.

the bayonet slot'of the fitting.

10. A shade'comprising a shade roller and top I and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth, tapes extending up wardly from the bottom shade stick through aligned slits in all of the plaits but the top plait; to and wound around said shade roller, the top shade stick and plait being located on the indoor side of the tapes, means for rotating said roller,

ventilating-cords extending upwardly from the top plait and shade stick, and brackets for supporting said shade in. a window frame, each bracket including a ventilating cord guide located at the front and near the top of the bracket, and means to receive the pin of the shade roller, said means being located a distance below the top of the bracket suflicient to accommodate winding of the tape on the roller, and being located a distance to the rear of the cord guide such that the top plait when elevated comes in front of the roller.

11. A shade comprising a shade roller and top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth, tapes extending upwardly from the bottom shade stick through aligned slits in all of the plaits but the top plait to and wound around said shade roller, the top shade stick and plait being located on the indoor side of the tapes, means for rotating said roller, ventilating cords extending upwardly from the top plait and shade stick, and brackets for supporting said shade -in a window frame, each bracket including a side plate, a back flange, a top flange, said plate and flanges being perforated to receive mounting screws, an arm having a ventilating cord guide located at the front and near the top of the bracket, and means on said side plate to receive the pin of the shade roller, said means being located a distance below the top of the bracket sufllcient to accommodate winding of the tape on the roller, and being located a distance to the rear of the cord guide such that the top plait when elevated comes in front of the roller.

12. A shade comprising a shade roller and top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth, tapes extending upwardly from the bottom shade stick through aligned slits in all of the plaits but the top plait.

to and wound around said shade roller, the top shade stick and plait being located on the indoor side of the tapes, means to reinforce the top shade slits, means for rotating said roller, ventilating cords extending upwardly from the top shade stick, and brackets for supporting said shade in a window frame, each bracket including a ventilating cord guide located at the front and near the top of the bracket, and bearing means to receive the pin of the shade roller, said bearing means being located well below and rearwardly of said ventilating cord guide.

13. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth', a shade roller at the top of said shade, tapes extending from the bottom shade stick upwardly through aligned slits in all of the plaits except the top plait, to and around the roller,'the top shade stick and plait beinglocated on the indoor side of the tapes, means forrotating said roller in order to raise or lower the-bottom shade stick, cord guide means, and ventilating cords extending upwardly from the top shade stick to said cord guide means, in order to raise or lower the top shade stick, said cord guide means being'located higher than the shade roller and forwardly (indoors) of the shade roller, whereby the top shade stick and plait when fully elevated tend to conceal the shade roller.

14. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cord, a shade roller at the top of said shade, tapes extending upwardly from the bottom shade stick through aligned slits in the plaits to and around the roller, means for rotating said roller in order to'raise or lower the bottom shade stick, and ventilating cords extending upwardly from the top shade stick to appropriate guide means in order to raise or lower the top shade stick, said top shade stick being flat and disposed on the indoor side of the tapes, and said ventilating cords and shade cloth being so connected to said top shade stick that it normally assumes an approximately upright (i. e. edgewise) position.

15. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited shade cloth, a shade roller at the top of said shade, tapes extending from the bottom shade stick upwardly through aligned slits-in all of the plaits except the top plait, to and around the roller, the top shade stick being movable and located wholly on the indoor side of the tapes, means for rotating said roller in order to raise or lower the bottom shade stick, and ventilating cords extending upwardly from the movable top shade stick to appropriate guide means in order to raise or lower the top shade stick, said guides being located on the indoor side of the axis of the shade roller.

16. A shade comprising top and bottom shade in a direction opposite to the tapes, and ventilating cords extending upwardly from the top shade stick to guides located in front of the axis of the shade roller.

17. A shade comprising top and bottom shade sticks interconnected by a horizontally plaited cloth, a spring shade roller mounted at the top of the window frame, tapes extending upwardly from the bottom shade stick through aligned slits in all of the plaits except the top plait, to and wound around said roller, the top shade stick being movable and located wholly on the indoor side of the tapes, ventilating cords extending upwardly from the top' shade stick, and guides for training said cords downwardly, said guides being located on the indoor side of the axis of the shade roller.

CLAUDE 'D. CARVER. 

